Cam actuated case former



July 27, 1965 .1. E. ULLMAN CAM ACTUA'I'ED CASE FORMER 8 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed June 25, 1963 INVENTOR.

July 27, 1965 J. E. ULLMAN CAM ACTUA'I'ED CASE FORMER 8 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed June 25, 1963 INVENTOR.

J O H N E. U LLWIAN July 27, 1965 J. E. ULLMAN 3,196,751

CAM ACTUATED CASE FORMER Filed June 25, 1963 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 =EJ -L lzzvi A T TOR/VE Y.

July 27, 1965 .1. E. ULLMAN CAM ACTUATED CASE FORMER 8 Sheets-Sheet 4Filed June 25, 1963 INVENTOR.

JOHN E. ULLMAN 'IIIII/I I III/Ill] lI/I ATTORNE).

July 27, 1965 J. E. ULLMAN 3,195,751

CAM AG'I'UATED CASE FQRMER Fi1 ed June 25, 1963 8 Sheets-Sheet 5INVEN'IUR. JOHN E. ULLMAN ATTORN July 27, 1965 J. E. ULLMAN 3,196,761

CAM ACTUATED CASE FORMER Filed June 25, 1963 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 IN VENTOR.

JOHN E. ULLMAN BY 2 44%. and

A TTOR/VEX July 27, 1965 J. E. ULLMAN 3,196,751

CAM ACTUATED CASE FORMER Filed June 25, 1963 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR.

JOHN E. ULLMAN ATTORNE).

July 27, 1965 J. E. ULLMAN 3,196,751

CAM ACTUA'I'ED CASE FORMER Filed June 25, 1963 8 Sheets-Sheet 8INVENTOR.

JOH N E. ULLMAN A T TOR/VEX United States Patent 3,196,761 CAM AQTUA'EEDQASE FQRMER John E. Ullman, Huntingdon Valley, Pa, assignor toHuntingdon industries incorporated, lietiiayres, Pa, a corporation ofPennsylvania Filed lune 25, 1963, Ser. No. 2590, 362 6 Claims. (Cl.93-49) This application is a continuation-in-part of my applicationSerial No. 166,798 filed January 17, 1962, now Patent No. 3,101, 654,issued on August 27,1963. This invention relates to improvements in acase former, and more particularly concerns apparatus for forming thebottom portion of endclosing cases to adapt them for top loading.

Cases or boxes made of corrugated paperboard or the like are widely usedto package cans or similar articles. The blank of an end-closing casenormally is smaller, and therefore less expensive, than the blank of acorresponding top-closing case. For example, in packaging a case of 24cans, an end-closing blank normally used today would require up to 30percent less paperboard than a top-closing blank. This difference in theamount of board arises from the fact that the flaps on the ends of anend-closing case are smaller than tl e fiaps on the top and bottom of acorresponding top-closing case, because many cases today are long andfiat, thus making the area of the end of the case considerably smallerthan the area of the top and bottom.

Accordingly, packers have long desired to use end-closing cases insteadof top-closing cases because of the savings in paperboard and cost.However, it is difficult to load an end-closing case with cans or thelike, especially if a tight package is required. Conventionally, themeth- 0d of forming and filling an end-closing case is to take such a assupplied by the manufacturer (in flattened condition with themanufacturers flap connecting a side panel to the top or bottom panel),erect the top, bottom, side panels to set-up condition so that itappears as a tube, fill the case with cans by pushing the cans sidewisethrough one end, and glue and close both ends.

it can. be very ditlicult to shove a load of cans sidewise into a casefrom one end, especially if the case is a snug fit, and most can packersprefer a tight case because it lessens the likelihood of can damage inhandling and shi g.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention vide apparatus foradapting an end-closing case for top load and which overcomes theheretofore mentioned problems.

Cther objects and advantages of this invention, inclu ing its simplicityand economy, as well as the ease with which it be adapted to existingequipment, will further become apparent hereinafter and in the drawings,in which:

FlEG. l is a view in side elevation, partly cut away, of a case formerconstructed in accordance with this invention;

2 is a fragmentary View in top plan taken as indicated by the lines andarrows 22 which appear in FlG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view in top plan of a carton blank positioned in the formingstation in flat condition;

FIG. 4 is a view in section taken as indicated by the lines and arrowswhich appear in FIG. 3;

to pro- FIG. 5 is a view in top plan of the carton after its bottomportion has been formed into set-up condition;

FIG. 6 is a view in section taken as indicated by the lines and arrows6-6 which appear in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view in elevation taken as indicated by thelines and arrows 77 which appear in PEG. 6;

1G. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 but showing a later stage in operationwith the mandrel in its lower position;

FEGS. 9l3 are views illustrating various steps in the process of theinvention;

FIG. 14 is a view in top plan of another embodiment of forming stationconstructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 15 is a view in section taken as indicated by the lines and arrowsl515 which appear in FIG. 14; and

FIG. 16 is a view in section taken as indicated by the lines and arrows16l6 which appear in FIG. 15.

Although specific terms are used in the following description forclarity, these terms are intended to refer only to the structure shownin the drawings and are not intended to define or limit the scope of theinvention.

Turning now to the specific embodiments of the invention selected forillustration in the drawings, there is shown (Fifi. 9) a flatend-closing case blank 21 made of paperboard or the like and having atop panel 22 with the top 23 and manufacturefs lisp 24, an inner sidepanel ving side flaps 26, a bottom panel 27 having bottom *3, 225 2'7and 31 are defined by crease lines 33, and when ca e 21 is filled withcans and is closed the manufacturers flap 24 is attached to the topportion of outer side panel 31, with flaps 23, 26, 23 and 32 beingclosed to form the ends of the case.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a case former for end-closing casesconstructed in accordance with this invention, which comprises loadingstation 355 having hopper means for holding a stack of fiat end-closingcase blanks it, a glue station 36 having means for applying an adesiveto the bottom flaps 2d of the case blanks 21, a forming station 37having means for turning side panels 25 and 31, side flaps 26 and 32 andbottom flaps 28 to set-up position, and feed means 33 for feeding caseblanks 21 one at a time from loading station 35 to forming station 37.

Loading station includes stacker bars 41 and ripple plates d2 whichsupport the case blanks 21 and move them relative to each other as theymove downwardly in the stack toward table 43. The bottom case blank 21in the stack is pulled down to table 43 by take-down vacuum cup 4 andpivoted hold-down arms 45 hold the blank flat against table 43, againstthe act on of take-down cup 4 5 in releasing from the bottom case blankby reversing its suction to blow air upwardly.

The mechanism operating take-down cup 44 includes drive motor 46, gearbox 47, crank 48, connecting link 51, lever 52, connecting link 53,lever 54, vacuum rod support mounting 55, and vacuum cup 4-4 whichcontacts the bottom blank 21 to transfer it from the hopper to table 43.

The mechanism for driving blank 21 from loading station 35 to gluestation 36 to forming station 37 include driving motor 46, gear box 47,crank 43, connecting link 51, lever 52, lever 56, link 57, and apaperfeed cross-head 58 which reciprocates back and forth to deliverblanks 21 from loading station 35 to forming station 37.

"(flu Glue station 36 includes spray guns 61 and adhesive tank 62.

Forming station 37 includes a vertically reciprocable mandrel 63 whichis connected to a crosshead 64 that is reciprocated vertically alongcrosshead columns 65 by a drive mechanism which includes a connectingrod 66, levers 67 and 68, adjustable connecting rod 71, adjustable crankplate 72, gear box 47, and drive motor 46.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 3-8, forming station 37receives a fiat end-closing case blank 21 having adhesive areas 73 onbottom flaps 28 in the position shown in FIG. 3. Blank 21 is deliveredto forming station 37 and is received in angles 74, 75. Mandrel 63 has abottom which is adapted to contact bottom panel 27 of blank 21 and moveit downwardly while the bottom portion of case 21 is being turned intoset-up position.

A turner rod 76 having a return spring 77 is mounted in forming station37 below side panel 31, as shown in FIG. 3. A panel turner plate 78 ismounted on turner rod 76 beneath side panel 31 and extends beneathmandrel 63 so that the mandrel in its downward path pushes against plate78 to rotate rod 76.

A pair of panel turner arms 81 are mounted on rod 76 with one on eachside of plate 78 and are positioned beneath the end portions 82 of sidepanel 31. Extending at right angles from turner arms 81 are a pair ofside flap turner cams 83 which are positioned beneath side flaps 32.

Adjacent the position of inner side panel 25 are mounted a pair ofturner rods 84 which are connected to turner rods 76 by connecting links85 which extend between levers 86 and 87 mounted on turner rods 76 and84, respectively.

A pair of side flap turners 88 having cams 91 extending at right anglesfrom the axis of turner rods 84 are positioned beneath side flaps 26.

A side panel turner arm 92 is pivotally mounted on each flap turner 88,and arms 92 extend parallel to the axis of turner rods 84 and arepositioned beneath side panel 25.

Each turner arm 92 (see FIGS. 7 and 8) is adjustably mounted on a pivotpin 93 and is urged into horizontal position by a spring 94.

Beneath bottom flaps 73 are positioned a pair of bottom flap rollers 95which roll the bottom flaps 73 into set-up condition during the downwardtravel of mandrel 63.

A pair of mandrel arms 96 (see FIGS. 6, l1, 7 and 8) are mounted onmandrel 63 and are positioned above the top panel 22 when it is inset-up position as shown in FIGS. and 6.

In operation, mandrel 63 in moving in its downward path pushes panelturner plate 78 to rotate turner arms 76 and 84 and cause turner cams 83and arms 81 to turn side panel 31 and flaps 32 into set-up position, andcause cams 91 and turner arms 92 to turn side panel 25 and flaps 26 intoset-up position.

Bottom flap rollers 95 roll the bottom flaps 28 into set-up position,and top panel 22 is moved into position at right angles to inner sidepanel 25 by means of its action in contacting mandrel arms 96 whenturner arms 92 are turning side panel 25 into position. Then mandrelarms 96 (in moving downwardly with mandrel 63) push the turner arms 92out of the way about their pivot pins 93 to provide for downward passageof top panel 22. On the upward stroke of mandrel 63, spring 77 acts toreturn the plate 78 to normal position, and springs 94 return the arms92 to normal.

The method of forming the bottom portion of an endopening case 21 sothat it is adapted for top loading in accordance with the presentinvention (see FIGS. 9-13) comprises the steps of taking a flatend-opening case blank 21, applying an adhesive to areas 73 on bottomflaps 28, turning side panels 25 and 31 and side flaps 26 and 32 intoset-up position, and turning bottom flaps 28 into set-up position sothat the adhesive makes contact with side flaps 26 and 32.

Top panel 22 is turned from the flat case blank position to a positionat right angles to the set-up middle side panels 25 when it contactsmandrel arms 96.

Side panels 25 and 31 and flaps 26 and 32 are turned into set-upposition simultaneously (with side flaps 26 and 32 at right angles toside panels 25 and 31) by turner arms 92, 81 and cams 91, 83. Top panel22 is simultaneouSly turned to a position at right angles to middle sidepanel 25.

Turning now to the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated inFIGS. 14-16, there is shown a cam actuated case former which includes avertically reciprocal cam body 101 which is attached to crosshead 64 bybracket 102 and extends downwardly from the crosshead.

Positioned around cam body 101 are cam-guide rollers 103 which aremounted on flat plate 104 and guide the movement of cam body 101.

A cam track 105 is formed in cam-body face 106 and includes a bend 107.

A cam roller or follower 108 rides in track 105 and is mounted on alever 111 which is attached to one end of a shaft 112. A cross shaft 113is connected to shaft 112 by mitre gears 114 and cross shaft 113 isprovided with levers 115 mounted on its ends.

Push rods 116, 117 are connected between levers 115 and levers 87 ofturner rods 84 for actuating their associated panel and flap turners91a, 92a. A push rod 118 extends between lever 87a of front rod 84 andlever 86 of turner rod 76 and is adapted to rotate turner rod 76 toactuate the panel and flap turners mounted thereon. Panel turner 78a isa bar, instead of a plate, and turns side panel 31 into set-up position.

In operation of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 14-16,crosshead 64 in moving in its downward path causes cam body 101 to movedownwardly and when cam follower 108 moves through bend 107, lever 111rotates shaft 112. This motion is transmitted by mitre gears 114 tocross shaft 113 and its levers 115. Push rods 116-118 are thereby movedto turn rods 84 and 76 to actuate their flap and panel turners to turnthe side panels and flaps into set-up position.

As in the other embodiment of the invention, bottom flap rollers rollbottom flap 28 into set-up position, and top panel 22 is moved intoposition at right angles to inner side panel 25 by means of its actionin contacting mandrel arms 96 when turner arms 92a are turning sidepanel 25 into position. Then mandrel arms 96 (in moving downwardly withmandrel 63) push the turner arms 92a out of the way about their pivotpins 93 to provide for downward passage of top panel 22. On the upwardstroke of mandrel 63, cam follower 108 again passes through 665d 107 incam track and acts to return push rods 116-118 and their panel and flapturners to normal position. Springs 94a return arms 92a to normal.

An advantage of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 14-16 isthat the machine is subjected to much less shock and vibration becausethe panel and flap turners are actuated by the vertically reciprocatingcam body 101 instead of being actuated by the mandrel 63 as it moves inits downward path to push panel turner plate 78 to thereby rotate turnerarms 76 and 84.

It is to be understood that the forms of the invention herewith shownand described are to be taken as presently preferred embodiments.Various changes may be made in the shape, size and arrangement of parts.For example, equivalent elements may be substituted for thoseillustrated and described, parts may be reversed and certain features ofthe invention may be utilized independently of the use of otherfeatures, all without departing from the spirit or scope of theinvention as defined in the subjoined claims.

I claim:

l. A case former which forms the bottom portion of end-closing cases toadapt them for top loading, comprising a loading station having hoppermeans for holding a stack of flat end-closing case blanks, a gluestation having means for applying an adhesive to the bottom flaps ofsaid blanks, a forming station having means for turning the side panels,side flaps, and bottom flaps into set-up position, said forming stationincluding a reciprocable mandrel having a bottom adapted to contact thebottom panel of a flat end-closing case blank when said blank ispositioned in the forming station, first turner means mounted on aturner rod for turning the flaps of the inner side panel into set-upposition against the mandrel, second turner means mounted on said firstturner means and extending at right angles therefrom for turning theinner side panel into set-up position, third turner means mounted on aturner rod for turning the outer side panel and flaps into set-upposition, means mounted on said mandrel for mov ing said second turnermeans out of the way to provide for passage of the top panel thereby,and fourth turner means for turning the bottom flaps into set-upposition, all of said turner means being positioned adjacent the path ofmandrel travel, cam means connected to said turner means for actuatingthem to turn said side panels and said flaps into set-up position, andfeed means for feeding the blanks one at a time from loading station toglue station to forming station.

A case former which forms and seals the bottom portion of end-closingcases to adapt them for top loading, comprising a loading station havinghopper means for holding a stack of flat end-closing case blanks; a gluestation having means for applying an adhesive to the bottom of saidblanks; a forming station having means for turning the side panels andside flaps into set-up position so that their adhesive contacts saidside flaps, and for compressing the adhesive surfaces together to aid insetting; said forming station including a reciprocable mandrel having abottom adapted to contact the bottom panel of a fiat end-closing caseblank when said blank is positioned in the forming station, a turnerrod, a pair of panel turners mounted on said rod and positioned beneaththe ends of the outer side panel, a pair of flap turners extending atright angles from said panel turners and positioned beneath the flaps ofthe outer side panel, a pair of turner rods mounted adjacent theposition of the inner side panel and connected to the first said turnerrod by connecting links which extend between levers and said turnerrods, a pair of flap turners extending at right angles from the axis ofthe second said turner rods and positioned beneath the fiaps of theinner side panel, a panel turner pivotally mounted on the second saidflap turners and extending along the axis of the second said turner rodsbeneath the inner side panel position, and cam means connected to saidturner rods for actuating said panel and flap turners to turn said sidepanels and flaps into set-up position, and feed means for feeding theblanks one at a time from loading station to glue station to formingstation.

3. A forming station for end-closing cases comprising a reciprocablemandrel l aving a bottom adapted to contact the bottom panel of a flatend-closing case blank when said blank is positioned in the formingstation, first turner i leans mounted on a turner rod for turning theflaps of the inner side panel into set-up position against the mandrel,second turner means mounted on said first turner means and extending atright angles therefrom for turning the inner side panel into set-upposition, third turner means mounted on a turner rod for turning theouter side panel and flaps into set-up position, means mounted on saidmandrel for moving said second turner means out of the way to providefor passage of the top panel thereby, fourth turner means for turningthe bottom flaps into set-up position, all of said turner means beingpositioned adjacent the path of mandrel travel, and cam means connectedto said turner rods for actuating them to turn said side panels and saidflaps into set-up position.

4. A forming station for end-closing cases comprising a reciprocablemandrel having a bottom adapted to contact the bottom panel of a fiatend-closing case blank when said blank is positioned in the formingstation, a turner rod, a pair of panel turners mounted on said rod andpositioned beneath the ends of the outer side panel, a pair of flapturners extending at right angles from said panel turners and positionedbeneath the flaps of the outer side panel, a pair of turner rods mountedadjacent the position of the inner side panel and connected to the firstsaid turner rod by connecting links which extend between levers on saidturner rods, a pair of flap turners extending at right angles from theaxis of the second said turner rods and positioned beneath the flaps ofthe inner side panel, a panel turner pivotally mounted on the secondsaid flap turners and extending along the axis of the second said turnerrods beneath the inner side panel position, and cam means connected tosaid turner rods for actuating said panel and flap turners to turn saidside panels and flaps into set-up position.

5. A forming station for end-closing cases comprising a crosshead, areciprocable mandrel extending downwardly from said crosshead having abottom adapted to contact the bottom panel of a flat end-closing caseblank when said blank is positioned in the forming station, a turnerrod, 21 pair of panel turners mounted on said rod and positioned beneaththe ends of the outer side panel, a pair of flap turners extending atright angles from said panel turners and positioned beneath the flaps ofsaid outer side panel, a pair of turner rods mounted adja cent theposition of the inner side panel and connected to the first said turnerrod by connecting links which extend between levers on said turner rods,a pair of flap turners extending at right angles from the axis of thesecond said turner rods and positioned beneath the fiaps of the innerside panel, a side panel turner pivotally mounted on each of the secondsaid flap turners and extending along the axis of the second said turnerrods beneath the inner side panel position, .a vertically reciprocablecam body extending downwardly from said crosshead and having a cam trackformed therein, a cam follower which rides in said track, and meansconnected between said cam follower and said turner rods for actuatingsaid panel and flap turners to turn said side panels and flaps intoset-up position, and a pair of arms mounted on said mandrel above theset-up top panel position, which mandrel arms move the second said panelturners out of the way about their pivots to provide for downward pZ1sage of the top panel,

A forming station for end-closing cases comprising a crosshead, areciprocable mandrel extending downwardly from said crosshead and havinga bottom adapted to contact the bottom panel of a flat end-closing caseblank when said blank is positioned in the forming station, a turnerrod, a panel turner plate mounted on said rod and positioned beneath theouter side panel, a pair of panel turner arms mounted on said rod withone on each side of said panel turner plate and positioned beneath theends of the outer side panel, a pair of panel flap turner cams extendingat right angles from said panel turner arms and positioned beneath theflaps of the outer side panel, a

pair of turner rods mounted adjacent the inner side panel position andconnected to the first said turner rod by a connecting link whichextends between levers on said turner rods, a pair of flap turnershaving cams extending at right angles from the axis of the second saidturner rods and positioned beneath the flaps of the inner side panel, apanel turner arm pivo-tally mounted on each of the second said flapturners and extending parallel to the axis of the second said turnerrods beneath the inner side panel position, a pair of mandrel armsmounted on said mandrel above the set-up top panel position, a pair ofbottom flap rollers positioned beneath the bottom flaps, a verticallyreciprocable cam body extending downwardly from said crosshead andhaving a cam track formed in its face, cam guide rollers positionedaround said cam body to guide its movement, a shaft positioned at rightangles to the face of said cam body, a cam follower which rides in saidtrack and is mounted on a lever attached to one end of said shaft, across shaft connected to said shaft by mitre gears, levers mounted onthe ends of said cross-shaft, and push rods connected between saidcross-shaft levers and References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATESPATENTS 3,097,576 7/63 Burke 93-49 FRANK E. BAILEY, Primary Examiner.

1. A CASE FORMER WHICH FORMS THE BOTTOM PORTION OF END-CLOSING CASES TOADAPT THEM FOR TOP LOADING, COMPRISING A LOADING STATION HAVING HOPPERMEANS FOR HOLDING A STACK OF FLAT END-CLOSING CASE BLANKS, A GLUESTATION HAVING MEANS FOR APPLYING AN ADHESIVE TO THE BOTTOM FLAPS OFSAID BLANKS, A FORMING STATION HAVING MEANS FOR TURNING THE SIDE PANELS,SIDE FLAPS, AND BOTTOM FLAPS INTO SET-UP POSITION, SAID FORMING STATIONINCLUDING A RECIPROCABLE MANDREL HAVING A BOTTOM ADAPTED TO CONTACT THEBOTTOM PANEL OF A FLAT END-CLOSING CASE BLANK WHEN SAID BLANK ISPOSITIONED IN THE FORMING STATION, FIRST TURNER MEANS MOUNTED ON ATURNER ROD FOR TURNING THE FLAPS OF THE INNNER SIDE PANEL INTO SET-UPPOSITION AGAINST THE MANDREL, SECOND TURNER MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID FIRSTTURNER MEANS AND EXTENDING AT RIGHT ANGLES THEREFROM FOR TURNING THEINNER SIDE PANEL INTO SET-UP POSITION, THIRD TURNER MEANS MOUNTED ON ATURNER ROD FOR TURNING THE OUTER SIDE PANEL AND FLAPS INTO SET-UPPOSITION, MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID MANDREL FOR MOVING SAID SECOND TURNERMEANS OUT OF THE WAY TO PROVIDE FOR PASSAGE OF THE TOP PANEL THEREBY,AND FOURTH TURNER MEANS FOR TURNING THE BOTTOM FLAPS INTO SET-UPPOSITION, ALL OF SAID TURNER MEANS BEING POSITIONED ADJACENT THE PATH OFMANDREL TRAVEL, CAM MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID TURNER MEANS FOR ACTUATINGTHEM TO TURN SAID SIDE PANELS AND SAID FLAPS INTO SET-UP POSITION, ANDFEED MEANS FOR FEEDING THE BLANKS ONE AT A TIME FROM LOADING STATION TOGLUE STATION TO FORMING STATION.